Blind focusing through strongly scattering media using wavefront shaping with nonlinear feedback

Scattering prevents light from being focused in turbid media. The effect of scattering can be negated through wavefront shaping techniques when a localized form of feedback is available. Even in the absence of such a localized reporter, wavefront shaping can blindly form a single diffraction-limited focus when the feedback response is nonlinear. We developed and experimentally validated a model that accurately describes the statistics of this blind focusing process. We show that maximizing the nonlinear feedback signal does not always result in the formation of a focus. Using our model, we can calculate the minimal requirements to blindly focus light through strongly scattering media.